Latest news with #SMEs
AsiaOne
34 minutes ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Eye care giant Alcon keeps 'lens' on the future with expanded manufacturing and logistics facility in Tuas, Singapore News
Eye care-device giant Alcon officially opened its expanded state-of-the art manufacturing and logistics facility in Tuas Biomedical Park on Friday (June 27) morning. This brings Alcon's investments in Singapore to more than US$600 million (S$765 million) since it began operations in Singapore back in 2005. The completed Tuas facility is one of the Swiss-American firm's largest high-tech manufacturing sites with Industry 4.0 capabilities, advanced automation and smart manufacturing systems to meet the increasing global demand for its contact lenses. Amid a growing middle class and rising demand for quality healthcare, the Asia-Pacific region continues to be the fastest-growing market for medical technology, with its market value projected to reach nearly S$300 billion by 2030. This puts the region second only to the US as a source of demand for medical technology (Medtech). "Singapore is home to some of the world's best-in-class Medtech manufacturing palnts. The sector has been growing steadily, with a manufacturing output of S$19.4 billion in 2023. This marks a $5.2 billion increase over the past decade," said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling at the opening ceremony of Alcon's expanded facility. Beyond strengthening innovation and supply chain resilience within Singapore's MedTech ecosystem, Alcon's investment is also expected to benefit Singaporean workers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. Muhammad Haiqal Bin Sapuan, an associate supervisor at Alcon made the switch from the oil and gas industry, through the Career Conversion Programme (CCP), in 2022 to have more time with his family. A year and a half into his role as a senior technician, he was nominated by his peers to step up as an associate supervisor. [[nid:707984]] "That recognition gave me confidence. I started off as an interim, and it was tough at first, but the team's support made the difference," said Haiqal. To date, nearly 180 Singaporean workers have benefitted from the CCP to become Alcon associates. Alcon's new facility is expected to create new job opportunities in production operations, quality control and supply chain management. It is also expected to strengthen innovation and supply chain resilience within Singapore's Medtech ecosystem through initiatives such as the Partnership for Capability Transformation, which partners local SMEs to buiild capabilities from precision moulding to packaging, helping them to scale and compete globally. [[nid:715407]] editor@
Finextra
11 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Zurich expands Cowbell collaboration
Cowbell, a leading provider of cyber insurance for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle-market businesses, today announced a major expansion of its product portfolio to include a comprehensive multi-line insurance offering from Zurich North America (Zurich) within the United States. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Building on its established success in Cyber and Technology Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O), Cowbell has collaborated with Zurich to offer Zurich Select Plus through the E&S distribution channel for small to medium-sized private businesses. Zurich Select Plus is a co-branded modular suite of four coverages: Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Crime, and Fiduciary insurance. With this launch, Cowbell now offers cyber, technology errors and omissions, and management liability coverage through both a fully integrated API and a proprietary agentic email automation platform. The move mirrors Cowbell's recent diversification in the UK, where it introduced professional indemnity insurance tailored for technology providers. Together, these initiatives reflect the company's vision to scale its tech-enabled platform globally and deliver intelligent insurance solutions to businesses wherever they operate. 'In cyber insurance, we've earned a reputation for underwriting discipline, broad distribution, and a user-friendly experience,' said Jack Kudale, Founder and CEO of Cowbell. 'Cyber remains one of the most complex risks facing businesses today. By leveraging our first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated, AI-powered platform and proprietary risk modeling, we've simplified the process, enabling faster, more streamlined transactions for our broker partners. Now, we've aligned with Zurich to bring innovation to additional lines of coverage, further advancing our mission to provide comprehensive, tech-forward insurance to the global SME and middle-market segment.' The launch of Zurich Select Plus follows Cowbell's announcement, nearly a year ago, that it had secured a $60 million Series C investment led by Zurich Insurance Group. 'At the one-year mark of Zurich's investment in Cowbell, we are pleased to offer our industry-leading Zurich Select Plus product for D&O, EPL, Fiduciary, and Crime coverages. Through Cowbell's digital platform, the Zurich Cowbell collaboration and relationship can provide bindable quotes within seconds of receiving the required underwriting information,' said Kristof Terryn, CEO of Zurich North America. 'This growing alliance is just one of many ways Zurich is a transformative risk advisor and manager for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises.' At the heart of this evolution is Cowbell's agentic email automation platform, representing a seismic shift in submission processing. Using large language model (LLM) agents, the platform automates submission workflows by extracting, enriching, and validating data from emails, attachments, and images. Cowbell's cyber, management, and professional liability programs are available to select agents and brokers in the United States.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cowbell integrates Zurich's multi-line insurance offering for SMEs
Cowbell, a provider of cyber insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has expanded its insurance portfolio in the US by including a multi-line insurance offering from Zurich North America. The new offering, Zurich Select Plus, is a suite of four coverages designed for small to medium-sized private businesses. The coverage includes directors and officers (D&O), employment practices liability (EPL), crime and fiduciary insurance. Cowbell said the collaboration builds on its established presence in the cyber and technology errors and omissions insurance market. Zurich Select Plus will be distributed through the excess and surplus (E&S) lines channel and is co-branded. Additionally, Cowbell now provides management liability coverage. Cowbell founder and CEO Jack Kudale said: 'By leveraging our first-of-its-kind, vertically integrated, AI-powered platform and proprietary risk modelling, we have simplified the process, enabling faster, more streamlined transactions for our broker partners. 'Now, we have aligned with Zurich to bring innovation to additional lines of coverage, further advancing our mission to provide comprehensive, tech-forward insurance to the global SME and middle-market segment.' The company employs both a fully integrated API and a proprietary agentic email automation platform to facilitate insurance processing. This latter platform uses large language model agents to automate the extraction and validation of data from submissions, including content from emails, attachments and images. Last year, Cowbell secured $60m (SFr47.84m) in Series C funding from Zurich Insurance Group. Zurich North America CEO Kristof Terryn stated: 'At the one-year mark of Zurich's investment in Cowbell, we are pleased to offer our industry-leading Zurich Select Plus product for D&O, EPL, fiduciary and crime coverages. 'Through Cowbell's digital platform, the Zurich Cowbell collaboration and relationship can provide bindable quotes within seconds of receiving the required underwriting information.' In April, Cowbell launched Prime One Tech in the UK, a professional indemnity and cyber insurance solution for technology companies with annual revenues of up to £1bn ($1.37bn). The product offers professional indemnity and cyber coverage with limits of up to £5m. Prime One Tech integrates the company's Prime One cyber programme, offering professional indemnity coverage for tech entities. "Cowbell integrates Zurich's multi-line insurance offering for SMEs " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
18 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
A CEO's role in shaping, living, and amplifying the employer brand
It's no surprise that the most successful employer brands are led by CEOs who drive from the top. They bring a compelling business strategy - but just as importantly, they recognise that it's the people strategy that delivers the objectives. What sets them apart is how they lead by example - through presence, visibility, and clarity of message. True leadership isn't about directing from a distance - it's about co-creating with those on the ground. When CEOs invite people into the vision, they give permission for ownership, autonomy, and pride in building the business together. - Leadership action: The most trusted CEOs create space for shared ownership by spending time on the ground - asking questions, listening without agenda, and inviting input. These moments often lead to surprising sparks of innovation and even unlock your next best business idea. More than just strategy: It's about presence Having worked closely with startups and scaling SMEs, I've seen how the tone of an organisation is often set by its founder or CEO. Even without meeting them, you can sense their presence in how employees behave, speak, and engage with one another. The way people describe their leaders - how they talk about values, workplace culture, and 'how things are done around here' - reflects just how personally invested the CEO is in the people agenda. Culture isn't hidden. It's lived. And it starts at the top. - Leadership action: CEOs who host regular townhalls, CEO Connects, or informal video broadcasts create rhythm and relevance around culture. Their communication lands because it feels two-way - personal, present, and grounded in real context. From startups to SMEs: The CEO's influence on employer brand power In startups, SMEs, and high-growth companies - particularly across emerging markets - the CEO isn't just a figurehead. They're a visible influencer, a culture carrier, and a deciding factor in whether someone joins or stays. They show up as they expect others to. They lead by example. For the emerging generations especially, working with a visionary, people-focused CEO is part of the value exchange. These are the leaders people want to learn from - or walk away from. They'll research the CEO before applying. Check Glassdoor. Scan LinkedIn. A CEO's presence - or absence - tells a story. - Leadership action: Credible CEOs treat LinkedIn as an extension of the employer brand - updating their profiles to reflect current strategy and culture, and sharing short, human stories that reinforce internal truth through external visibility. Tick-box leadership vs. cultural stewardship It's easy to spot when a CEO is 'doing employer branding' because they have to. The language is polished but disconnected. The culture feels staged - more like routine than real. By contrast, when a CEO genuinely lives the brand - when they share stories, show vulnerability with honesty, and actively support their people - it resonates. The difference is felt in how values are modelled, not just mentioned. And in whether the people agenda is owned at the top or delegated as a task. This is why, when embarking on any talent brand or culture journey, the belief, commitment, and visible sponsorship must come from the CEO. Without it, these initiatives won't stick. - Leadership action: Forward-thinking CEOs prioritise regular check-in conversations with CHROs and talent leads - not just to track metrics, but to understand what people are feeling and where the culture and heartbeat need calibration. Why the CEO's brand is the employer brand The employer brand lives in daily moments - and the CEO plays a central role in shaping those moments. In smaller, founder-led businesses, the CEO is not just the strategic driver - they're often the emotional heartbeat. Employees respond to leaders who don't just show up, but show they care. When CEOs share reflections, celebrate team wins, or communicate directly through informal videos, they build real trust. It's in these small, consistent moments that culture becomes tangible. - Leadership action: Some of the most resonant leadership moments come from short, unscripted CEO messages - recorded in the moment, without polish. These simple, direct touchpoints help employees experience the brand through the person leading it. Closing reflection If you're a founder, CEO, or visionary leader - someone whose heart, passion, and emotional connection is tied to the brand - here's the truth: - People don't just join organisations - they join the people shaping them. - Culture doesn't scale unless it's embodied by those at the top. - And credibility isn't claimed - it's experienced through how leaders consistently show up. If your brand carries your heartbeat, make sure people feel it - first-hand. Because in today's world, especially for Gen Z and emerging talent, a personal brand isn't separate from the employer brand. And for the CEO, that truth matters even more. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Coffee exporters from Africa, the Pacific, Latin America, and Southeast Asia showcase at World of Coffee Geneva 2025
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is showcasing its longstanding leadership in sustainable coffee development at the Specialty Coffee Association's World of Coffee – Europe's largest coffee trade show – hosted for the first time in Geneva from 26–28 June 2025. For over two decades, ITC has worked closely with the International Coffee Organization and regional institutions to support coffee value chains and SMEs across Latin America, Africa and Asia. From its flagship publication, The Coffee Guide – now in its fourth edition and widely regarded as the industry reference – to its deep partnerships promoting circular economy and inclusive business models, ITC supports building resilience, competitiveness and sustainable value chains for SME development.. This year's presence at the World of Coffee spotlights how ITC is investing in value addition, technical capacity building, regional trade, and youth and women-led entrepreneurship – with a focus on accompanying small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their efforts to benefit from trade while securing better market access and stronger returns. ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: 'Coffee is more than a commodity – for the many small businesses we support in countries across the world, the ability to improve the quality of their beans, process at origin and meet sustainability requirements in the face of rising climate concerns means they're able to adapt to changes to tap into new markets and compete at the global level.' ICO Executive Director Vanusia Nogueira said: 'No one can tackle the coffee sector's challenges alone. We need expertise, funding, capable people and strong partnerships for collective action. The ICO and ITC have worked together for many years, and Pamela and I have deepened this collaboration – going beyond The Coffee Guide to drive calls to action across numerous coffee-producing countries. Together, we've supported efforts ranging from EUDR compliance and new field procedures to market access and boosting local consumption – each critical to increasing incomes where coffee is grown.' Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga, Uganda's Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said: 'Uganda reaffirms its ambitious commitment to transform its export trajectory—from $50 billion to $500 billion—through strategic value addition. Coffee will be one of the primary drivers for achieving this target, reinforcing not only our economic competitiveness but also our national transformation agenda. Additionally, the Government of Uganda has set aside $100 million to support investment in the gradual transition of the coffee sector from green bean export to both green bean and soluble coffee exports in a bid to generate more revenue and income for the farmers and the country as a whole.' In a separate meeting with ITC Deputy Executive Director Dorothy Tembo and her team, Hon. Bwino explored the possibility of a partnership with ITC focusing on value addition through science and technology transfer for sustainably increased coffee processing production. ITC at World of Coffee Booth 1359 | Palexpo Geneva | 26–28 June At Booth 1359, visitors can taste unique coffees from across the globe, connect directly with producers, and learn how ITC programmes are enabling sustainable and inclusive coffee growth from seed to sip. ITC will also co-host national booths with coffee sector stakeholders from: Booth 1359: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana Booth 2469: Burundi Booth 2365: Kenya Booth 2531: Lao People's Democratic Republic Booth 2467: Papua New Guinea Booth 2271: Rwanda Booth 2377: United Republic of Tanzania Booth 2371: Uganda ITC Programmes represented ITC Window I Trust Fund, related to the development of methodologies associated with accompanying SMEs in the green transition European Union-East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) II, funded by the EU, will support over 40 coffee companies from East Africa to exhibit and engage with buyers. African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Business-Friendly, funded by the EU and Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, empowers small businesses through value addition, circular economy and trade development. Netherlands Trust Fund V, funded by the Government of the Netherlands, supports coffee producers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal to grow exports and secure livelihoods. United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme (UKTP), funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, aims to increase trade from developing countries to the United Kingdom and the European Union by maximizing the benefits of respective Economic Partnership Agreements and the United Kingdom's Developing Countries Trading Scheme. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.
